{"id":11362,"date":"2025-10-23T09:16:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T16:16:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aerocominc.com\/info\/?p=11362"},"modified":"2025-10-23T09:16:10","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T16:16:10","slug":"microsoft-teams-phone-system-overview-for-large-companies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aerocominc.com\/info\/microsoft-teams-phone-system-overview-for-large-companies\/","title":{"rendered":"Microsoft Teams Phone System Overview for Large Companies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>You work for a medium to large-size company and the company (hundreds to thousands of employees), is in the market for a new phone system. You&#8217;re considering Teams Phone System, but what do you need to know?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this video, I cover 8 things your company should be considering if your company is investigating Teams Phone System as a large company.<br>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Want my recommendations on the best Operator Connect providers? Ask me today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"mailto:askmike@aerocominc.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"200\" height=\"100\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aerocominc.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Ask-Mike.png\" rel='magnific' alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10739\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Microsoft Teams Phone System Overview for Large Companies\" width=\"550\" height=\"309\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zWJI4mxrgMI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2>About Me<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aerocominc.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Mike-Smith-square-head-shot-2022-06-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10741\" width=\"70\" height=\"65\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Mike Smith has been helping companies select the best telecom, WAN, security, and cloud services since 1999. He founded AeroCom in 2003, and has been the recipient of numerous business telecommunications industry awards, including being recognized as one of the&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/mydigitalpublication.com\/publication\/index.php?i=68145&amp;m=&amp;l=&amp;p=53&amp;pre=&amp;ver=swf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">top 40<\/a>&nbsp;business people in tech-heavy Orange County, CA. Follow Mike&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/Aerocominc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">YouTube<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/mikesmithaerocom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LinkedIn<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MikeSmithsBrain\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Reddit<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/community.spiceworks.com\/people\/mike-aerocominccom?source=navbar-subnav\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SpiceWorks<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Transcript<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You work for a medium to large sized company with hundreds or even thousands of employees, and your company is now looking for a new phone system. Microsoft Teams Phone System is probably one of the options you\u2019re considering. So, what do you really need to know about Teams Phone if you\u2019re a medium to large sized company?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4>My recommendations<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>My name is Mike Smith, and I\u2019ve been helping companies choose and implement phone systems for over 20 years. I\u2019m a broker for all the major Teams Phone Operator Connect vendors. There are over a hundred of them, and some are a great fit for your business \u2014 others, not so much. Some are even vendors you probably don\u2019t want to touch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want a shortcut to find the best Teams Phone vendor, get a demo, and get the best pricing, reach out, send me an <a href=\"mailto:AskMike@AeroComInc.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">email<\/a>\u00a0or give me a call (714.593.0011). I already know the industry inside and out. You\u2019ll not only get better advice but better pricing when you go through me. Don\u2019t waste time searching Google \u2014 I can tell you which vendors fit your company best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4>The Real Benefits of Microsoft Teams Phone System<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the biggest questions I get is: \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aerocominc.com\/info\/microsoft-teams-phone-system-pricing-for-large-companies-in-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Will Teams Phone save us money<\/a>?\u201d For most companies, the answer is no \u2014 at least not right away. If your company doesn\u2019t already have Microsoft 365 E5 licensing, Teams Phone probably won\u2019t save you money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But cost isn\u2019t the main benefit here. The real benefit is convenience. If your employees are already using Teams every day for instant messaging, video calls, and meetings, adding phone functionality to the same app just makes sense. It means one platform, one interface, and one consistent experience for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4>Reliability and Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>A lot of companies ask me how reliable Teams Phone really is. Apart from some outages back during the COVID days, Teams has been rock solid. Yes, there are occasional hiccups, but overall, it\u2019s reliable. Plus, you can set up failover options for extra peace of mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4>Understanding Licensing for Teams Phone<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to licensing, there are a few key things to understand. If your company has Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Business Premium, E1, or E3 licenses, you\u2019ll need to add a Teams Phone Standard license for each user. That add-on costs around $10 per user per month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your company already has an E5 license, good news \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=h92rNXTKa2c&amp;embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aerocominc.com%2F&amp;source_ve_path=MjM4NTE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Teams Phone Standard<\/a> is already included. You won\u2019t need to buy the add-on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4>E3 vs. E5: Which Makes More Sense<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes companies ask if they should upgrade from E3 to E5 just for Teams Phone. The answer is usually no. Upgrading to E5 is a lot more expensive than simply adding the $10 per user Teams Phone Standard license.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4>Adding Calling Plans or Dial Tone<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Every Teams Phone user also needs a way to make and receive calls \u2014 that means a calling plan or dial tone. There are a few ways to handle this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The old-school way is Direct Routing, where you install and manage a session border controller on-site. That method is outdated and requires on-premises equipment, which most medium to large companies don\u2019t want anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The modern option is Operator Connect, which lets a third-party vendor provide the calling plan for your users. This is the approach most companies take because it\u2019s simpler, supported, and scalable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4>Why Operator Connect Is the Best Option<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>There are over a hundred <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aerocominc.com\/info\/why-large-companies-use-microsoft-teams-phone-system\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Operator Connect vendors<\/a>. Some are great, and some aren\u2019t. That\u2019s where I come in \u2014 I can tell you which ones make sense for your specific company and get you better pricing than if you went to them directly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to know which Operator Connect vendors your company should quote, send me an email or give me a call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4>The Microsoft Calling Plan Option<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also use Microsoft\u2019s own calling plans, but they\u2019re more expensive and offer less support. For medium to large businesses, Operator Connect is the smarter choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4>Features: What Teams Phone Does Well (and Doesn\u2019t)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Teams Phone covers all the basics \u2014 voicemail, auto attendants, call queues, and standard call handling. For many companies, that\u2019s enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But if your company needs advanced features like call recording, analytics, CRM integrations, or contact center tools, Teams Phone isn\u2019t the strongest option. It\u2019s not designed for heavy call-center use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4>Adding Extra Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>You can add extra functionality using third-party \u201cbolt-on\u201d apps through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=3ypwln0QEns&amp;embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aerocominc.com%2F&amp;source_ve_path=MjM4NTE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Operator Connect<\/a> vendors. These can include call recording, SMS, and analytics. But be warned \u2014 these add-ons can get pricey, especially if every user needs them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you only need basic features, Teams Phone works perfectly. But if your company needs fancy, customizable features, you might run into limitations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4>Porting Your Existing Phone Numbers<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>One common question I get is whether you can keep your existing phone numbers. The answer is yes \u2014 in almost every case. Most major telecom and even mobile carriers allow number porting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you use an Operator Connect vendor, they can handle the entire porting process for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4>Implementation: What to Expect<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/microsoftteams\/setting-up-your-phone-system\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rolling out Teams Phone<\/a> can be a big project, especially for medium to large companies. Implementation varies depending on whether you work directly with Microsoft or through an Operator Connect vendor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Microsoft doesn\u2019t offer much help with implementation, but Operator Connect vendors do. They can assign a dedicated project coordinator, manage a phased rollout, and even handle multiple locations in stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, they can port all your numbers to their platform and then migrate each office to Teams one by one. This makes for a smoother, easier transition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aerocominc.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/wp-3-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Microsoft Teams Phone System Overview for Large Companies\" class=\"wp-image-11363\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aerocominc.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/wp-3-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.aerocominc.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/wp-3-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.aerocominc.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/wp-3-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.aerocominc.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/wp-3-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.aerocominc.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/wp-3-250x141.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.aerocominc.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/wp-3-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.aerocominc.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/wp-3.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4>Downsides of Microsoft Teams Phone System<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, let\u2019s talk about the downsides. The first is limited advanced features. If your company relies heavily on call analytics, compliance recording, or integrations, Teams Phone might feel limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The second downside is administration. Managing Teams Phone through Microsoft\u2019s admin portal isn\u2019t always simple. Some actions require multiple steps, like setting up call queues or user routing. It\u2019s manageable for IT departments, but it\u2019s more complex than other systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The third downside is customer service. If you go directly through Microsoft, you\u2019ll mostly get self-service support, not live help. But if you use an Operator Connect vendor, you\u2019ll get hands-on, 24\/7 support \u2014 that\u2019s one of the biggest reasons I recommend them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4>Want my recommendations on the best Operator Connect providers?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>As a broker, I work with all the major Operator Connect vendors and have relationships across the industry. I know which vendors are reliable, which ones to avoid, and which ones will give you the best deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The best part? It doesn\u2019t cost your company anything to work with me. The service providers pay my broker fee, so you get expert guidance, better pricing, and faster decisions at zero cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your medium or large business is considering Microsoft Teams Phone System, it\u2019s a great option for simplicity and integration \u2014 especially if your company already lives in Microsoft Teams every day. But for advanced calling features, more flexibility, or better support, you\u2019ll want to use an Operator Connect vendor \u2014 and that\u2019s where I can help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So before you start Googling vendors or guessing which provider to call, reach out, send me an <a href=\"mailto:AskMike@AeroComInc.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">email<\/a>\u00a0or give me a call (714.593.0011). Join the thousands of IT professionals who\u2019ve used me to make better telecom decisions faster, easier, and at no extra cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"mailto:askmike@aerocominc.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"200\" height=\"100\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aerocominc.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Ask-Mike.png\" rel='magnific' alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10739\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You work for a medium to large-size company and the company (hundreds to thousands of employees), is in the market for a new phone system. You&#8217;re considering Teams Phone System, but what do you need to know?&nbsp; In this video,<span class=\"ellipsis\">&hellip;<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aerocominc.com\/info\/microsoft-teams-phone-system-overview-for-large-companies\/\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more\">Read more &#8250;<\/div>\n<p><!-- end of .read-more --><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":11364,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[356],"tags":[933,966,380],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aerocominc.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11362"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aerocominc.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aerocominc.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aerocominc.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aerocominc.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11362"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.aerocominc.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11362\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aerocominc.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11364"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aerocominc.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11362"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aerocominc.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11362"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aerocominc.com\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11362"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}